About Climate Ride

Climate Ride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes life-changing charitable events to raise awareness and support sustainability, active transportation, and environmental causes. Learn more about the work that we do year-round:

The Events

Our participants make an extraordinary contribution to a cause they care about. They are helping to provide much-needed financial support, raising awareness, engaging other humans, and helping to build a national network of supporters.

The reward for this commitment is the experience of a lifetime through some of America's most beautiful landscapes. Participants meet and network with leaders in sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental causes while raising awareness of our cause.

The organizations that you support by joining Climate Ride are doing important work and the money you raise makes a crucial difference. Proceeds from the events benefit a collection of environmental and active transportation non-profits. Participants can choose to direct grants to the non-profit of their choice. Learn more about our beneficiaries and read common questions asked by participants in the FAQ.

Climate Ride Northeast: The ride begins in iconic Bar Harbor through Acadia National Park, and along Maine's rocky coast, dotted with quaint harbor towns, lighthouses, and wild blueberry patches. Heading south, the next two days are spent pedaling along Maine's scenic Mid-Coast region with amazing riding and terrific stops along the way including Portland, Maine's largest city and a bustling port town. The next day pedals through classic Maine as we pass through the towns of Kennebunk, Wells, Ogunquit and York. From there, it's New Hampshire's 18 miles of scenic shoreline before a beautiful ride into Massachusetts where we will retrace, in reverse, Paul Revere's famous midnight ride of 1775.

Climate Ride California North Coast: Climate Ride California is a gorgeous cycling adventure that begins in California's historic Redwood Empire near Eureka, travels along the scenic coast, and ventures into the famed Russian River Valley before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. Climate Ride California is more than a bike trip – it’s an inspiring journey with like-minded people who are united by their passion for sustainability, renewable energy, and bicycles - the ultimate carbon-free form of transportation.

Climate Ride Midwest: The Midwest ride spans three states and connects two vibrant cities, while exploring some of the best biking in the country. From the trip start in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we ride past historic lighthouses, blueberry farms, and quaint artist villages. We’ll also visit Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore before pedaling on paved rail-trails to a bicycle path on Lake Michigan that affords stunning views of Chicago’s dramatic skyline. The last 6-mile stretch leads up to Grant Park – know as “Chicago’s Front Yard” – for the ride finale.

Climate Hike Glacier National Park: On Climate Hike Glacier National Park, we spend five days hiking the iconic trails on the 'Crown of the Continent'. We witness majestic 500-year old cedar forests under threat of wildfires and glaciers in fast retreat. Over five days of hiking, participants build up stamina for an epic 15-mile journey across the park — traversing aretes and high alpine mountain passes. Professional Glacier Guides will accompany us on each day to teach us about Glacier's unique ecosystem, so we can bring this knowledge home to our communities.

Climate Hike Bryce-Zion: The Bryce-Zion Hike is a charitable hiking challenge that explores two of the most epic National Parks in the United States, and a fragile ecosystem at risk from development pressures, climate change, and pollution. You'll spend five days hiking the iconic trails in Southern Utah’s “Grand Staircase”- an immense structure of sedimentary rock layers carved by nature into beautiful canyons and formations. You’ll hike in two National Parks – Bryce Canyon and Zion – and several state parks, traversing 30+ miles.

Independent Challenges: So you’re itching to do something meaningful for the future of the planet, but every time there’s a Climate Ride event, something stands in your way. Never fear! Introducing our latest endeavor – Independent Challenges – a new way to raise money and awareness of your favorite Climate Ride beneficiaries.

The Speaker Series

The Speaker Series: Each evening of the rides, speakers educate and inspire participants about sustainability, climate, the green economy, and active transportation. Our participants and the communities we pass through learn that our government, businesses, and each individual American will benefit from a cleaner, healthier planet. This is a unique event — a fundraiser and green conference on wheels. Learn more about our speakers here.

The Congressional Appointments

Advocacy Meetings: On Climate Ride NYC-DC (which we hope will return in 2016), we give riders the chance to meet with Congress. The Climate Ride staff schedules hundreds of appointments for riders to meet in person with their senators and representatives when they arrive by bike in Washington DC at the end of Climate Ride NYC-DC. In 2012 alone, we trained and scheduled more than 100 riders to meet with Congress. In 2013, we scheduled more than 550 meetings. As part of our focus on education and civic duty, we encourage participants to learn about the issues related to our cause. However, Climate Ride is a non-partisan organization and we do not endorse any particular candidates, politicians, or legislation. We're helping to create a grassroots force of 'people-powered' advocates. Participants say this is one of the most powerful parts of the Climate Ride experience - pedaling your bike right to the US Capitol to advocate for change.

The Beneficiary Grants Program

Beneficiaries: The Climate Ride staff handles hundreds of inquiries from potential beneficiaries and manages a process to vet and approve the organizations that participants wish to support. We assist organizations in making Climate Ride a useful and meaningful part of their development plans. We process tens of thousands of donations and handle every aspect of the events so that these organizations can benefit without any risk or cost - so they can focus on achieving their missions.

Community Building and Awareness

Climate Ride strives to build an engaging new community around sustainability and active transportation. Our staff works to publicize these causes and promote engagement. We work to keep past and present participants engaged with the issues and the beneficiaries they support.

Why We Ride

We engage in the Climate Ride events to support a collection of beneficiary organizations that are working to engage citizens in the possibility of a green economy, educate the public about the interconnected web of environmental issues related to the climate crisis, mobilize government and businesses to enact sound energy policies that promote renewables, and raise the profile of green transportation. Your fundraising helps these beneficiaries continue to provide the critical services and education needed to address sustainability and active transportation issues. Right now, your fundraising and your effort to raise awareness are more critical than ever.

We can create communities with cleaner air, where we ride bikes, drive efficient cars and live and work in energy-saving, healthy buildings. If you demand it, our legislators and business community will promote clean energy and smarter transportation systems. By joining the Climate Ride events, you can take a step in this direction.

So ditch your car and join us for a few days of human powered activity—all for a good cause!